Students need access to opportunities that match their dreams | The Skillman Foundation All students in Michigan should have access to pathways that challenge them and honor their aspirations, whether that be career or college or both.

All students should have the opportunity to achieve their postsecondary goals.

Teach Plus Michigan Policy Fellow Michelle Vanhala explains how curricula access, transportation funding, and school counselors all help students to build the lives they want.

What’s Cool in High School? Personal Finance States are trading one requirement for another as they emphasize practical education.

In a world of limited resources, state education departments are giving priority to the practical over the conceptual. 39 states now require a personal-finance course to graduate, with 4 adding the mandate since 2024. 

A Group of Students Took a Deep Dive Into AI. Here’s What They Told Teachers They came away with new skills, but also confronted some thorny ethical questions.

“We’re here because AI is going to be part of our future,” one of Leading Edge Fellow Ashley Kannan's students said after spending months using AI so they could share what they found.

I’m a teacher who understands the system, and I struggled to get help for my daughter | Opinion Early Intervention to address developmental needs only works if it is properly coordinated.

Even as a teacher, Teach Plus PA Fellow Suzanne Shaffer struggled to get her daughter what needed. 

She shares how systems can change to serve all families:

Fix: Michigan is losing the teachers who matter most Michigan's teacher shortage is eroding the pipeline of experienced educators who mentor new teachers and support students.

As a mentor teacher, Teach Plus MI Fellow Zachary Fix knows how irreplaceable having a mentor is for new teachers. He shares what MI needs to do to keep quality educators long term.

“Learning to read is freedom. We’re really focused on increasing & improving literacy outcomes for all kids in MA.”

In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus MA Fellow Suzanne Stillinger on the importance of literacy at #TheNextChapterSummit.
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Michelle Sherman: Literacy instruction cannot stop at third grade Even in a small group of readers, seventh grader Nyla couldn’t keep up. I watched her as she constantly looked […]

Two strategies states can use to ensure all students K-12 have access to evidence-based literacy instruction, from the classroom of Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow Michelle Sherman:

Social studies has spent too long in the shadows - Talk Business & Politics “I don’t have a say in government. I’m not even old enough to vote,” Jamal, a straight-A high school senior, told me during a unit on civic engagement. “Social studies...

Social studies should be emphasized in schools because it "improves literacy by building background knowledge, expanding vocabulary and improving reading comprehension through the analysis of complex texts," Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Ashley Fox-Kelley writes.

Teacher says graduation without direction not preparing students for life after high school Educator:"Every student deserves to leave high school after graduation prepared for life, not left behind by a system that equates a diploma with readiness."

"When students leave high school without a plan, it is not just their future at risk, it is Mississippi’s future," Policy Fellow Elizabeth Maxcey writes.

That’s why Teach Plus Mississippi teachers are advocating for systemic changes for every student's future.

Op-Ed: Building a school community where learning blossoms - ILLN A classroom moment rooted in trauma shows why culturally responsive teaching is essential to helping immigrant students feel seen, safe and connected.

"Students thrive in spaces where they feel seen and valued," Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellow Diana Zepeda writes.

She shares three ways educators can build connection in the classroom:

Opinion: Golden State Teacher Grant program is crucial. Don’t end it now. The program is set to end this year unless our state leaders act.

The Golden State Teacher Grant Program is too valuable to lose. Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Valentyna Banner explains why this important program needs to be funded:

Texas Kindergarten Teacher Reflects on What’s Driven Her to Spur Change JoMeka Gray, a nationally recognized kindergarten teacher, shares what motivates her to advocate for change in her community and in her profession.

As a nationally recognized kindergarten teacher, Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumna JoMeka Gray shares what motivates her to advocate for change in her community and in teaching.

Read more here:

Opinion | AI reminded me to lead in my classroom, not follow someone else’s dictates This change isn’t just about technology. It’s about whether teachers reclaim their role as designers of learning or wait to be told what to do next.

Here’s how one teacher used AI to build agency, sharpen his professional judgment, and clarify his thinking around curriculum and lesson planning.

Insights via Leading Edge Fellow Al Rabanera:

"Let’s sup­port and sus­tain teach­ers in our classroom, for the bene­fit of all our stu­dents."

In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Sontreka Johnson on the need to support teachers in doing their best work.

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Trump Again Proposes Major Education Cuts in New Budget Proposal The president again wants lawmakers to consider billions in K-12 spending cuts and program eliminations.

In the White House budget, Trump is proposing to zero out federal education programs that support educators’ professional development, services for English learners, academic enrichment and student supports, rural schools, and more.

My Turn | Math made real for students statewide As Illinois educators move towards implementing the best practices included in the Numeracy Plan, all of us — teachers, parents, caregivers — should share the stories that focus on who

Teachers can make math personal and real to their students by telling real-life stories, Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow Tracy Selock writes.

She shares how receipts, recipes, and other ordinary life transactions can enrich students' learning experience.

One Teacher, One Mission: Get More Black Girls Into STEM Alia Pope, a science and math teacher at eSTEM Public Charter School in Little Rock, Arkansas, didn’t see people like herself in STEM. Now, she’s making sure her students do.

WATCH: Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Alia Pope explains her passion for inspiring her students to pursue a career in STEM via @the74.bsky.social:

From Arlington to Sacramento to Washington, teachers are setting the agenda and redefining what schools can be. Teach Plus Newsblast April 2, 2026

Looking for the latest news on educator practice, policy, advocacy and impact?

Read last week’s roundup – and sign up for this week’s:

Invest in early childhood education because Indiana's future depends on it “I can’t read. I’m not as smart as my friends.”

Early childhood education is a foundational step of education that matters for every student, and that's why Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellow Danielle Bringman wants to see Indiana fund and expand its preschool programs.

Read her solutions here:

A State Gets Closer to Challenging Undocumented Students' Free Access to School Lawmakers are debating legislation that would require schools to collect immigration information.

Since President Donald Trump’s reelection, at least seven states have proposed action to limit undocumented students’ access to a free, public education, according to an Education Week analysis. Efforts in four have failed.

Arkansas needs balanced strategy to address educator concerns about AI | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: While AI can offer transformative support for students who need it, it also risks eroding the foundational skills we are trying to help them acquire. Arkansas needs a balanced strategy…

"While AI can offer transformative support for students who need it, it also risks eroding the foundational skills we are trying to help them acquire."

Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Alisa Kindsfater shares 3 focus areas for developing a balanced AI strategy:

Schools Made Steady Progress Boosting Attendance With This Strategy Change The timing and tenor of communication with families matter, according to a new analysis.

Chronic absenteeism has stubbornly higher than pre-pandemic absence rates, with schools trying to make headway. A new analysis shows that early, frequent, and positive interactions with families of kids at risk of becoming chronically absent help.

Opinion: Golden State Teacher Grant program is crucial. Don’t end it now. The program is set to end this year unless our state leaders act.

The Golden State Teacher Grant Program helps bring in qualified teachers into high-need schools, but it is slated to end soon.

Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Valentyna Banner explains why this crucial program needs to be reinstated and funded:

"A diverse, sustainable and well-supported teacher workforce is essential for student success."

In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus California Exec. Director Sarah Lillis pushes for full funding to the Golden State Teacher Grant program.

Learn more and subscribe: cm.teachplus.org/t/r-2F6A470A...

Teacher says graduation without direction not preparing students for life after high school Educator:"Every student deserves to leave high school after graduation prepared for life, not left behind by a system that equates a diploma with readiness."

A member of Gen Z, Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellow Katrina Sacurom is part of the first cohort of teachers who grew up with much of their social lives online. Katrina was able to personalize her school’s AI writing tool to mimic her own teaching style.

www.edweek.org/the-state-of...

Teacher says graduation without direction not preparing students for life after high school Educator:"Every student deserves to leave high school after graduation prepared for life, not left behind by a system that equates a diploma with readiness."

"When students leave high school without a plan, it is not just their future at risk, it is Mississippi’s future," Teach Plus Mississippi Policy Fellow Elizabeth Maxcey writes. That’s why she’s advocating for systemic changes that reach every learner.

Read more:
mississippitoday.org/2026/03/24/g...

Combating the childhood literacy crisis 40% of fourth graders nationwide are reading below "basic" levels, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress and in many states, reading outcomes have remained stubbornly low…

WATCH: Pennsylvania Coalition Manager Rachael Garnick joined NBC News Now to share why evidence-based methods are the best way for students to learn to read:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqdX...

Students Are Worried That AI Will Hurt Their Critical Thinking Skills Despite those concerns, students are using the tech more and more for schoolwork.

It’s not just teachers who are worried about AI’s effect on students’ abilities to think critically. Nearly 7 in 10 middle and high school students say they are concerned that using AI is eroding their critical thinking skills, according to a new survey.
www.edweek.org/technology/s...

Team teaching and co-teaching can be beneficial to both teachers and students, allowing for "collaboration, continuity, constant feedback, and ongoing development" for students, Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow Aimee Seitz-Geedey writes.

Social studies has spent too long in the shadows - Talk Business & Politics “I don’t have a say in government. I’m not even old enough to vote,” Jamal, a straight-A high school senior, told me during a unit on civic engagement. “Social studies...

"If Arkansas is serious about improving literacy, social studies must be treated as an integral part of a student’s academic development—not an afterthought," Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Ashley Fox-Kelley writes, sharing 3 steps the state should take.